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Chimney can turn dangerous without proper care

Chimney problems sparked two fires in the metro in the past week alone.

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Updated: 9:10 AM CST Jan 4, 2015

Chimney can turn dangerous without proper care

Chimney problems sparked two fires in the metro in the past week alone.

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Updated: 9:10 AM CST Jan 4, 2015

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WEBVTT CHIMNEY PROBLEMS SPARKED TWO FIRES IN THE METRO IN THE PAST WEEK. NOW WE'RE TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT YOU SHOULD DO TO KEEP YOURS IN WORKING ORDER. New tonight, KETV NEWSWATCH 7'S MOLLY MILES TAGS ALONG WITH A LOCAL SWEEPER.. SHEDDING LIGHT ON HOW TO STAY SAFE THE NEXT TIME YOU LIGHT YOUR FIREPLACE. ON COLD WINTER DAYS THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN GATHERING AROUND A FIREPLACE.BUT THAT ENJOYABLE FIRE CAN QUICKLY TURN DANGEROUS.(Janie Rickord/ Alpine Chimney) I'm checking the firebox for any breaches for holes and there are some in this ALPINE CHIMNEY OWNER JANIE RICKORD HAS BEEN A CHIMNEY SWEEP FOR OVER 25 CHIMNEYS FROM TOP...(Rickord) there's a big hairy nest up there ...TO BOTTOM TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN WORKING ORDER, EVEN SENDING A CAMERA THROUGH TO SEE THOSE TIGHT SPACES.(going through some pictures) Mortar missing between the tiles on the fireplace there some nesting things like that...(Rickord) What we're looking for is things that could cause loss of property or life. THE CULPRITS CAN BE PESKY PESTS... (Rickord) You have wildlife that can come in and here we have some evidence of that OR EVEN POOR INSTALLATION... (Rickord) We see insulation daily almost with insulation blown in around the air-cooled chimney pipe, very very dangerous. FOR DO-IT- YOURSELFERS,YOU CAN CLEAN IT ON YOUR OWN, BUT RICKORD SAYS A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL IS INVALUABLE.(Rickord) A lot of people are using the new clean your chimney log, those are good in not every situation you still can't tell if there's a bird nest up there if there's raccoons or what have you cause there could be all kinds of things. A GOOD CHIMNEY CLEANING AND INSPECTION MAY COST UP TO A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS.. BUT CONSIDERING THE DAMAGE A FIRE COULD DO-- RICKORD SAYS IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT.MOLLY MILES, KETV NEWSWATCH 7. THE CHIMNEY SAFETY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA RECOMMENDS ANNUAL CHIMNEY CLEANING AND INSPECTIONS, EVEN IF YOU DON'T BURN WOOD IN THE FIREPLACE...BECAUSE ALMOST ALL HEATING APPLIANCES RELY ON THE CHIMNEY TO SAFELY CARRY TOXIC GASES FROM THE HEATING SYSTEM

Chimney can turn dangerous without proper care

Chimney problems sparked two fires in the metro in the past week alone.